Tampa, Florida (and Lakeland) Restaurants

[somegirl2004]

Hi everyone!! I was wondering if anyone could give me some suggestions for restaurants/grocery stores in the Tampa area?? I'm going to be heading down there around New Years for the Outback bowl (I'm a senior in college at the University of Wisconsin ----- Go Bucky!!).

Anyway, back to the point -- I'm going to be staying in Tampa and then heading to Lakeland to visit some family for a few days and any help with suggestions would very much be appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

-- Erin

[Johnny Cool]

Have a GREAT time at the Outback Bowl, we sure did the last time our Badgers went, in 2005!! We love Tampa/St. Pete. In fact, we're going to Clearwater Beach/Sand Key next week Wednesday!! So we're hoping somebody answers your question! There's another one on this topic under "Vacation in Key West". I hope some native Floridians answer one of these threads so us 'sconnies know where to go to eat down there!! We booked this trip ages ago, and now that the Badgers got the bid, I'm devastated to know I'm going to be THAT close, but a WEEK early!!! GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!

[CarlaB]

Maggiano's

Outback

Chipotle

Mitchell's Fish Market

PF Changs

Bonefish Grill

[Johnny Cool]

Know any that aren't chains? I s'pose that's too much to ask for....

[georgie]

Does anyone know of gluten-free restaurants and grocery stores in Downtown Tampa? We will not have a car but there is a Hotel shuttle bus for 2 mile radius. Or is it better to stay near International Mall ?

[BethJ]

Don't forget the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. It's one of the oldest restaurants in this state and has wonderful amazing food. Although a lot of Cuban food is naturally gluten free, they actually have a gluten-free menu. For the gluten eaters, their homemade bread is to die for *sob sniff. . . I miss that part so much!*

Open Original Shared Link

You won't go hungry! From their gluten-free menu . . .

GLUTEN FREE MENU ITEMS

The Columbia Offers Gluten Free Menu Items, including:

Spanish Bean Soup

Black Bean Soup

[georgie]

Thanks! This looks really nice. Do you eat there often and is the food safe from flour dust/ cc ? I am very sensitive. I don't know a lot about Spanish food - does it normally have onion?

[bbuster]

We went on vacation in June - spent 2 days in Tampa by Busch Gardens.

We found a gluten-free bakery called Sami's Bakery on Busch Blvd just a few blocks from Busch Gardens. My husband took our son there - I didn't go, but they came back with some gluten-free brownies that were quite possibly the best brownies I have ever had (and my son is the only one with Celiac in our family).

I heard there was a good Italian Restaurant called CDB's, but we didn't make it there.

[georgie]

I looked at Sami's Bakery but I am super sensitive and would be concerned about eating a gluten-free product from shared baking facilities. They seem to use quite a lot of wheat flour.

I love Italian so will check how close that is..Thanks.

[BethJ]

Thanks! This looks really nice. Do you eat there often and is the food safe from flour dust/ cc ? I am very sensitive. I don't know a lot about Spanish food - does it normally have onion?

No, I haven't eaten there since going gluten-free (we're on the East coast of Florida). The article I read about them seemed to indicate that they take care in preparation. I would ask or email them ahead of time.

And yes, onions are very common in Spanish food. I would ask as I'm sure there are onion-free options.

I've had good luck eating in Cuban restaurants as so much of their food is naturally gluten-free. We eat at one in the Keys when we're down there and I've never gotten sick. It's family run so all the waitstaff could advise me on what's in the food.

[sschevychevelle]

I'm moving to the Lakeland / Winter Haven area and just wanted to bump this topic to see if people had any other suggestions.  Thanks!